Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates

Opening Notes

Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Period

The formation lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.